Mikewest Posted October 16, 2016 Share #1  Posted October 16, 2016 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hello  I would like to know your opinions about these 2 lenses on Leica SL (or M). I already have a SL and Noctilux f1. I'm asking this question because I don't know a lot about the Summilux 50 ASPH; and I don't find the Noctilux very sharp on the SL on the edges at whole aperture. Furthermore, the Summilux is lighter than the Noctilux. Sometimes, I missed modern rendering with the noctilux... But appreciate his magical effect. Do you have any advice or experience about these 2 lenses (comparison, rendering,...). I acquired the noctilux 7 years ago (very good bargain) and hadn't the opportunity to ask myself about 50 mm rendering (summilux asph versus noctilux f1).  I have to mention that I have a 35 mm Summilux FLE...  Thank you very much in advance (and sorry for my poor english... I hope you understand what I mean)   Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted October 16, 2016 Posted October 16, 2016 Hi Mikewest, Take a look here Summilux 50 ASPH or Noctilux f1. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
John McMaster Posted October 17, 2016 Share #2 Â Posted October 17, 2016 The f1.0 Noctilux is never sharp at the edges at full aperture ;-) The 50mm Summilux asph is a good matching lens to go with it.... Â john Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikewest Posted October 17, 2016 Author Share #3 Â Posted October 17, 2016 Thank you very much for your answer... And what about the summilux rendering? Do you find it to close than the 35 FLE ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
otto.f Posted October 17, 2016 Share #4 Â Posted October 17, 2016 I must say - I own(ed) all these lenses - the Noctilux 1.0 is not comparable to the Summilux. The Summilux is a Karbe lens and the Noctilux a Mandler lens, in character at least. Then, the Summilux definitely is the best value for money for a fast 50 in Leica. I sold it because I am not that fifty-ish and it is heavier than I think a 50 should be. I can live with 2.8 and the Elmar is astounding for me, every time again. Yes the Summilux 50 is a bit like the 35 FLE, but personally I find the FLE slightly better at 1.4, just my subjective experience or perhaps variations between copies. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
John McMaster Posted October 17, 2016 Share #5 Â Posted October 17, 2016 It is quite close although I hardly use my 50 Summilux asph since I got the Summicron APO, ideal pairing with an f1.0 ;-) Â john Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted October 17, 2016 Share #6 Â Posted October 17, 2016 There are numerous threads on the topic. Â Here's one, starting with a comment from our old friend Lars on all 3 lenses you mention... http://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/148013-noctilux-f1-or-summilux-50-asph-seeking-expert-advice/?p=1634438 Â But my suggestion is get hold of the Summilux ASPH (rent, borrow or demo) and try for yourself.....better than spending a week reading. Â Â Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gpwhite Posted October 18, 2016 Share #7 Â Posted October 18, 2016 Advertisement (gone after registration) You can complicate the comparison further by also considering the last version of the Summilux 50 before the ASPH model with FLE. I believe it is referred to as V3, and it sports a collapsible hood in a compact package. Karbe oversaw the improvements designed into this version. Â The rendering and OOF area are smoother with V3 than the ASPH, yet contrast on axis and color saturation are not far different. The big differences between these two Summiluxes, IMHO, is that the spherical elements model is not plagued by field curvature while the ASPH has much more defined corners (although not in the focus plane, which can be maddening!). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
John McMaster Posted October 18, 2016 Share #8 Â Posted October 18, 2016 I have both Summiluxii, the 50mm asph is a closer match to the 35mm FLE than the V3 Â john Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikewest Posted October 18, 2016 Author Share #9 Â Posted October 18, 2016 Thank you very much for your help. Unfortunately I don't use a lot the noctilux... It seems better if I sell it... I love the magical effect... But for me, it's important that the subject on the edge be sharp too. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
John McMaster Posted October 18, 2016 Share #10 Â Posted October 18, 2016 Sell the Noctilux and buy a 50mm Summicron APO Asph..... Â john Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
otto.f Posted October 18, 2016 Share #11 Â Posted October 18, 2016 Thank you very much for your help. Unfortunately I don't use a lot the noctilux... It seems better if I sell it... I love the magical effect... But for me, it's important that the subject on the edge be sharp too. I did not find the Noctilux 1.0 that interesting, also because of the 1m shortest distance, that's too long for a 50 to be variable enough in purpose for that price. And it is just not sharp enough at that shallow plane of focus. If you sell it for a 75lux which has none of these disadvantages, you have enough money left for a 50Elmar or 50cron iv with separate hood or a summilux 50 asph with a little luck or some extra money Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stealth3kpl Posted October 18, 2016 Share #12 Â Posted October 18, 2016 I've just sold my Noctilux f1 which I didn't use much (too bulky and heavy), and used the money for a Leica Q which I will use a lot. Pete Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted October 20, 2016 Share #13 Â Posted October 20, 2016 I've just sold my Noctilux f1 which I didn't use much (too bulky and heavy), and used the money for a Leica Q which I will use a lot. Â Â Is there an emoji with a winced expression that I can use? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stealth3kpl Posted October 20, 2016 Share #14 Â Posted October 20, 2016 Ha ha, I really just sold a lens which I rarely used and happened to buy a camera I've been eyeing since its launch. I'd had the noctilux for 3 or 4 years and I can remember it leaving the house on 3 occasions. I'll not miss the noctilux as I get a lot of enjoyment see what others achieve with it. The Q will get a lot of use. Pete Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stealth3kpl Posted October 20, 2016 Share #15 Â Posted October 20, 2016 This Tapatalk app is rubbish. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
steamboat Posted November 11, 2016 Share #16  Posted November 11, 2016 The life history of most Noctiluxes is getting bought and sold and bought and sold etc. Individuals buy them then loose interest in them for a variety of reasons. I have  the F1 (I think) v2. When it's used at F1 and properly focused it's sharp enough for me. I don't care about the edges so much. That said I'd rather have the 50mm f1.4 Summilux ASPH. I'd gladly give up F1 + weight for a lens at F1.4 that is sharp at F1.4. ALSO I agree with otto.f that the 1-meter minimum focus is a handicap. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlindstrom Posted November 11, 2016 Share #17 Â Posted November 11, 2016 Well, it all depends.. with M cameras, previously, the best look I've achieved was with M9 + 90 elmarit-m & 50 summilux e46 pre-asph. Â I've since tried those on M240 along with 50 summilux asph and a boatload of other lenses. Never really felt like settling with any of them.. Â Now I've arrived, after various camera adventures, to M262 with zm 35/1.4 + nocti 0.95. And from the brief experiences with these, I'm now in the happy place again with the kind of rendering I like. Â I've also got the Q and I absolutely love it. Â Maybe my mind changes reg nocti weight, but from the first few outings with it - no complaints, plays nice with a shoulder strap across the chest. Funnily enough, many of the people who complain about nocti weight don't mond carrying 75 summilux which weights just as much as 0.95 nocti and lot more than f1 nocti. Â And btw the weight difference between f1 nocti and 50 asph slux is 250 grams.. Â So I would probably go with the nocti f1. At f1 you get the crazy swirly bokeh and closing down you get the Mandler era smoothness. Â Â Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Black Posted November 11, 2016 Share #18 Â Posted November 11, 2016 Thank you very much for your help. Unfortunately I don't use a lot the noctilux... It seems better if I sell it... I love the magical effect... But for me, it's important that the subject on the edge be sharp too. Â Â If you are looking for even sharpness across the frame, the 50 Summicron-M APO is a better choice in my experience. Â Â The 50 Lux ASPH has very nice bokeh at F1.4 with a high degree of abstraction/blur and the bokeh smooth, not nervous like the 35 FLE. Â I feel the 50 Lux ASPH excels in the f1.4 to f2 range for portraits and such. Â The 50 Lux ASPH's extreme corner sharpness can be ho-hum at times. Â Also, there is a dip in its MTF performance in the mid-range. Â That usually wasn't a problem for me, but I did notice from time to time. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeinzX Posted November 11, 2016 Share #19 Â Posted November 11, 2016 I had the Noctilux 1:1 on a M 6 and the Summilux on the M 240. For general purposes the Summilux is thebetter and sharper lens. But you will never get the special rendering and the wonderful bokeh with this lens, the Noctilux 1:1 has. So you have to make your decision - wonderful and magical bokeh or sharpness. My personal decision would be to keep the Nocti because you have already a 35 mm Summilux FLE. Perhaps I would think about to buy a 50 mm Summilux SL for use with this camera only later on. But all is a matter of the photos you will mainly take - sharp reality all over or more impression. And of the aperture you mainly use. If you mainly use apertures from 2.0 onwards the reasonable decision would propably another one that if you use often wide open apertures. But all are only my 2 cents. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikewest Posted November 11, 2016 Author Share #20 Â Posted November 11, 2016 Thank you very much for your answers. Finally, I've sold my Noctilux f1 and will try a Noctilux f0.95. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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